Lionel Messi gets down to business at his new home as he trains with his PSG team-mates for the first time after signing a £1m-a-week deal… and he meets his new strike partner Kylian Mbappe!
- Lionel Messi has taken part in his first training session since joining PSG on a free
- All-time great Messi was filmed doing drills on his own in a bid to build up fitness
- His session was focused around simple exercises at the club’s training complex
- He also met his PSG team-mates, including new strike partner Kylian Mbappe
Lionel Messi has trained with his new club Paris Saint-Germain for the first time after completing his sensational switch – and also shared a moment with team-mate Kylian Mbappe as they prepare to take to the field together.
The all-time great took to the pitch for the first time since Argentina’s Copa America final triumph earlier this summer, and was put through his paces at PSG’s Camp des Loges training complex today.
In the footage shared by the club on Instagram Messi was seen sprinting down the pitch and carrying out drills on his own. Having only arrived in Paris on Tuesday, he is not expected to make his debut until later this month.
Lionel Messi has taken part in his first training session at PSG since joining the club this week
His return from downtime was marked with simple exercises, with Messi’s workload to gradually increase while he gears up for the new season. The run-out caught on camera saw him race towards some cones and high-five a coach.
‘I’ve been out of action for around month and I need to get physically ready. I hope to be ready as soon as possible, because I can’t wait to play,’ Messi admitted during his official unveiling at the Parc des Princes.
According to Marca, Messi was keen to hit the ground running in France and make a positive impression. He did just that after reporting to the club’s facility almost two hours early, at 9.15am, to take in his new surroundings.
Kylian Mbappe met new team-mate Messi before training and posted a photo on social media
Before training, he was also introduced to the squad, including his strike partner Mbappe. The young ace shared a photo of them greeting each other on his own Instagram account, with the caption: ‘Welcome to Paris, Leo.’
The prospect of both players linking up, along with talisman Neymar, is a tantalising one for PSG supporters, and is likely to put to rest any speculation linking Mbappe with a big-money move to Real Madrid in this window.
Messi, who has signed a two-year deal with PSG worth a jaw-dropping £1million-per-week after leaving Barcelona, said he is relishing the chance to play with Mbappe and Neymar, and called them ‘the best players’.
Messi was officially unveiled by PSG this week after his sensational departure from Barcelona
‘It feels great to play with them to play everyday with these great players, and the other players who are here,’ he told reporters during his press conference. ‘I can’t wait to train with them. It’s great to do it everyday.’
It appears likely that Messi will have to wait for PSG’s Ligue 1 clash against Reims on August 29 to make his bow, and until then, he will continue building back his fitness and immersing himself with his team-mates.
More to follow.